May 25, 2020
1 Peter 4:1-5 (TPT) Living in the Grace of God
4 Since Christ, though innocent, suffered in his flesh for you, now you also must be a prepared soldier, [arm ourselves for a battle] having the same mind-set, [attitude—learn to think like Christ] for whoever has died in his body is done with sin. [after we have suffered in our flesh we are done with sin] 2 So live the rest of your earthly life no longer concerned with human desires but consumed with what brings pleasure to God. 3 For you have already spent enough time doing what unbelievers love to do—living in debauchery, sensuality, partying, drunkenness, wild drinking parties, and the worship of demons. [idolatry] 4 They marvel that you no longer rush to join them in the excesses of their corrupt lifestyles, and so they vilify you. 5 But one day they will have to give an account to the one who is destined to judge the living and the dead.
Today we celebrate Memorial Day. We remember the soldiers who gave their lives protecting our freedom. We thank God for them, honor their sacrifice, and pray God’s rewarding grace over them. As believers, we need to remember we are like soldiers, but we stand against the spiritual enemy—the power of sin—that comes to rob our spiritual freedom. We suffer as we lay our unrighteous desires and inclinations down; parts of us die, but after we have made the decision and stayed the course in our commitment to Christ, grace comes to liberate us and separate us from that which tries to destroy us. The Spirit of God sets us free, so we may live for his glory!
Prayer: Thank you Father, for sending some of your children to fight for our country’s freedom. Help me to never forget the price that was paid, so I could live and worship you. You desire to help me live fully human under divine leadership. So help me, by your grace, to step into the restoration process of remaking me in the image of Christ each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.